Fastener assembly



A ug. 21, 1945. G, CANNOVA 2,382,973

FS TENER AS SEMBLY INVENToR. (iwf-yy@ fan/wy@ ug- 2l, 1945. G. cANNovA FASTENER ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 19, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. l allfe @mm1/lz Aug. 2l, 1945. G. cANNovA FASTENER ASSEMBLY F'ld Jan. 19. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR. 6ta/1?? fan/Mya r @www Patented Aug. 21,1945 y @mehr oer-ice y l FSTENER ASSEMBLY Y j Y .George anncva, Flushing,.fN. f Yl, .ass'ignorfto f Y camloe Fastener..'CorperatioayNewvora'mr.,

acorporat'onof NevYolij l i application January 19, 1944, @endives-118,794 (o1. 244221.)

` 11e claims.

This inventionrelatesfit'o structurally fm1-1` `.functionally improved| `fastener l assembly as `Well 'as a studstructure` and :astud `receptacle of rim- :proved design. l

It is fanfobject of rthe invention t-o` provide a CII novel fastener assemblyithe parts of which lrnay :be readily. adjusted :and lvc/"ithout ithe necessity -of Ireplac'eirielit .or physical alteration so "that an operator may utilize :assemblies of' duplicate typejunderwidely 'varying iconditions ofY "sheet Athickness nr-ein fach-different conditions of inl stallation. Consequently, an assembly cfa softne- Whatvunversal nature isiurnished. Y e

This has' .theadvantage of reducing to `a lmate 4Arial extent the `time required for installationof the fastener as Well `as the operative coupling of members or `sheets to be se `ment by the assembly. v i. u

Moreover it `hasth'e advantageofmaking yit .iunn'ecessary for-anfoperatorito have available fan uredlagainstrmoveassortment of dilerent sized fasteners to m'eet conditions .peculiar itc diierent installationsu A -iurtherobject is `that of `piovidirig an assenti- .bly in lwhich =the operator may `adjust the "parts according to `"theme-eds `ofza particular installation.

and without any conscious effort or leXpend'ii-.ure

of "time being` required otherth'an thatl which `would normally befnecessary to coup-le" the parts `oiga fastener assembly.

A son further fobieetiistnat erfrumishine unit of this type Van-din which the parts when once coupled will be'swbstantially locked against accidental lcoseningeor detachment `from i one an- 'other `the parts of .thecollar inore'overlbeing maintained in a position such that Uno rearrangingof the same will benecessary whena stud is to becoupledthereto..1T` i Another Objectis `that of furnishi gaifa'stener which will embody relatively fewparts, each individually simple and rugged in construction; these parts being .capable` of manufacture fby `automatic machinery and methods'and being susceptiblegof assembly bycsiniliar methods to furnish a unitary structure operating over .long .periods oftime with freedom from all difficulties.

iFig. 3 is `a 'transverse sectional viewtaken along the line's V13---13 `and lin the .'direction'of vthe arrows fais lfldc'atedn Fig. 2.; .i l

Fig. f41isasectionalview taken valong the lines fI-Ilfinthe direction of ithe arrows as indicated "5 is a 'sectional viewtak'en along the lines `Ei`5 in the direction-tif "the arrows` as Lindicated insigni i e l Fig. 6 isa view similar' to Jlirg.` l but showing .'ceritain "of the parts in;elevationand also illus- .lines Uli-Ill and in the `'direction of the `arrows as 1fin'dicatecl-'inFg`- 1'0; Fig. l2 is farplan view 'of :an -alternative form -iof locking .plate which may 'be employed; and'l Fig. T13 is a View `similar' to' 1f2but'show1ng the y'structure fo'i a ffnut `-vvhicl'ris to Tbe associated `The present invention aims to provide an assembly of what might vbe termed the unlversal :typa `In other words,.a fastener constructedin accordance with `,the lpresent teachings will, 'fwhen vassociatedwith members to be joined, be capable of freadily 'attaching those members l to *each other `and securing vtheml against relative movements irrespective of variation inA sheet thickness and jothe'r `factors resulting i`n` greater 'or lesser dis- With these and other objects in mind,` reference is had to the Vattached sheet of vdrawings illustrating practical embodiments of the inven-` tion; andI in which:

1 is a sectional side View 'of thefastenfer assembly takenlalong the lines I-l `in the direction-of the arrows of Fig, 2; i l

ll'g. -2 is a bottom plan .View thereof with said yparts broken away to disclose underlying con structions;

tan'ces eXisting between `the `eilga'geable parts of i the assembly. Accordingly, a: great amount of time and expense win be saved 11n-that it win Ibe unnecessary `tol have available stud `members of 'different lengthsrahdfto replace by trial and error; or otherwisa. one stud 'member for another.

s wThus, as "shown the attached drawings, the vassembly conveniently r'tcaylbe 4employed to .couple members "lvaiidll in the form of' sheets. In

suchcaseg broth sheets are apertured andthe .fouterinost "sheet is` preferably dimpled fas shown at f2 t'ofdene a depressed portion adjacent its aperture.` i. Accordingly; the head` ofthe "stud may be recessed Within this dimple s'o that .a'subst'anltially uninterrupted 'outersurface is presented.

1 `The stud as shown in Figs. 1 fto'6ma'y include a head I3 fconveniently formed with agroove 1'4 toleceive the end 'of a manipulating tool. The

under-face of the head is prerferably flared at an angle corresponding to the angularity of the dimpling I2 so that the adjacent surfaces may have bearing throughout their entire operative faces.

A shank portion I5 extends below the head and is in the form of a relatively thin or narrow body having plain at side faces and screwthreaded edge portions I6. The end of the stud may terminate in a point or nose I1 providing a guiding portion functioning in a manner hereinafter brought out.

A stud of this type should preferably be associated with the member mounting the same in a manner such that it will be free from accidental detachment therefrom. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention a stud-retaining plate I8 is employed and which conveniently is .formed of a soft steel stock and vhas a slot through its body which will accommodate the shank of the stud. Also extending from this body, and as especially shown in Figs. 5 `and 6 are tongues I9. The shank I5 may be provided with outstruck portions 2l] conveniently formed by drilling the shank and press-fitting through theresultant bore, a section of steel wire or a rod, The ends of this rod extend slightly beyond the flat side faces of the shank. Accordingly, if the plate is formed of ordinary stocky the tongues I9 will spring back into position. Otherwise, they may be conveniently flattened in any desired manner, so that the space between these tabs is reduced suiciently to prevent the plate I8 from passing beyond the projecting ends of the rod 20 or its equivalent. A detachment of the plate over the opposite end of the stud is, of course, precluded as a consequence of the head portion I3.

Now, with reference to the stud receptacle of the assembly, it will be observed that this is largely contained in a housing or shell 2|. This shell is conveniently attached to the sheet II or any equivalent member through the instrumentality of wing portions 22 which may extend from the side faces of the shell and which receive rivets 23. The lower or inner face of the shell is formed with an opening 24 through which a nut 25 projects. This nut is formed with an outwardly flared ange 26 to provide a funnelshaped portion 21 adjacent the point of juncture of the flange with the nut proper. 28 of the nut are interrupted by opposed grooves 28 and 28, and the distance between the base portions of these grooves is slightly in excess of the width of the stud, i. e. the distance between its threaded side edges I6.

With a view to providing a structure which will restrain the shank from movement with respect to the collar assembly, and when the parts have been brought 'to occupy proper relative positions, a locking or detent structure is conveniently employed. As shown, this structure may include a plate 29 which has rotatable bearing with the The threads.

flange 26 of the nut and which is tapered to pro- I vide a cup portion 30. The cup portion may be continued in the'form of a tubular extension 3I lying within the bore of the nut. It is to be noted that both of these portions are formed with a slot, the dimensions of which are such that the shank I 5 may'readily pass through the same.

The plate 29 is preferably formed with extensions 32, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 4. Adjacent its corners, the flange 26 of the nut may be provided with upwardly projecting portions 33. These, in conjunction with the extensions 32, will act as stops limiting the rotation 0f the plate with respect to the nut. Moreover, as especially shown in this figure, the plate is forme'd with inwardly extending ribs 34 conveniently spaced apart throughout the circumference thereof. These engage with grooves or notches 35 formed in the outer face of the ange 26 and/or funnel portion 21. It therefore follows that a detent structure is provided such as will restrain rotational movements of the plate 29 with respect to the nut and when the latter occupies predetermined positions.

The shell or housing 2| conveniently has a spacer member 36 within its body. This member lies adjacent the sheet or mounting II and is formedwith an opening preferably in excess of the aperture dened by the dimple. Also, as indicated, the side edges 31 of this opening may extend at an angle. A spring in the form of a quadrangular frame 38 bears against the spacing member and acts against the plate 29. In vthis manner, the latter is 'normally maintained in contact with the outer face of the nutl and such nut bears in contact with the shell adjacent its aperture 24. The spring 38 is not snugly tted into the shell, but has limited movement therein as shown by the dotted line.

It is to be noted that the area of this aperture is materially in excess of the diameter of the nut 25. lAccordingly, the nut may, within limitations, be shifted with respect to the shell or housing. Consequently a floating structure is furnished. The sides of the shell may be dished or curved as indicated at'39 and the adjacent edges of the nut may be formed with a corresponding curvature as indicated at 49. Thus the parts may, within limits, be shifted'with respect to each other. However, under all conditions, the adjacent edges of the nut flange and the shell will extend substantially parallel-with respect to each other.

Using an assembly of this nature, it will be understood that the stud is primarily introduced through the aperture of the sheet or other member I0. Thereafter the retainer plate I8 is associated with the same to prevent accidental detachment of the stud. It being assumed that the collar assembly has been attached to the sheet II or its equivalent, the two sheets are brought into face-to-face contact and with their apertures in substantial alignment. The stud is thereupon projected, and the nose portion I1 of the same will contact the locking plate and adjacent parts of the nut so as to center vthe latter with respect to the stud. This may involve a certain amount of shifting of the nut with respect'to its shell, but due to the proportioning of the parts this is entirely permissible.

In projecting the stud, it is of course obvious that the latter enters the opening or slot formed in the plate 29. The plate is maintained in proper position to receive the stud because of the detent structure. In its projection the threaded edge portions I6 of the shank will ride within the grooves or interrupted thread portions of the nut.

This movement of the parts will continue until the head I3 of the stud bears rmly against the outer surface of the sheet or member I0. Under these circumstances, the stud will have been shifted axially with respect to the nut and to a position where it is f-ully projected. The operator may now turn the stud by introducing a screw driver or any other suitable implement into the groove I4 and rotating :the head I3. Such rotation will obviously result in a turning of the be ventirely 'Withdrawn Troni the` stud.

shank rwith lrespeot 'to lthefnut `and so ithatithe `threads I6 will engage with fithe 'tlireads Msc, y#such turning will ^`res1il "tatingfwith-theshank. rotatiori,"thePdeterit-ior flocking structure pli-*oface :"of thefdepressed "portieri of `the angefl *With tlie parts "proportioned iin the imanner shown, the rotation Willlbe through substantially 90. "Upon zthe rdeterit struc resfagain becoming operative, ithe Astop provided byithe'extended :portions "32 'injeo'operation fwitli the projections 3sat/'ill prevent affurther turning -of the ipa-its. incident tojthe fioregoing` operation, *the li-nut Lwill,

"-'Df "bourse, 'ridefrpwardly along the "shank 'and as especially-shown in Figs.' i1 land rUnfder these circumstances,the` spring lSIVWTI have been comlpressed to an Lalmost maximum i extent and1 the edges of `the spfringwill have riddenover 4the "n.,kawportionzof:the edge of this plateziorrrsleene `-latter, :a stop :structure sis :furnished `which A:will

:limit the :rotational imovfnnents of the ilockfior ldetent plaite lMl' withrespe'ct to rthe'nutr i fSim'flanly itonthe construction *heretofore file- 1.sc11ibed,sthe vouterface 'of thes'ange '26 fina-y *eden U'be 'forrned with a series :ofiradially extending. rgi'oovesdfl' 'whichl aretpreferablynsnaced:90iaapart.

The plate 42 may be loutstruckftoprovidefdef .tent @elem ents Moat .dianietricallyopposite points `-of this":leo`idy. 'Ill-ieee` detents`in ltlfie iormviof ribsfsmay selectively j engage within :the igrooves -4'4 fof i the `nut when: :the aplate ris r rotated tto teithei vor" its` `extreme positions iwith reference to' ritlie nut.\` rG'onsequent-l-y, fa restraining :structuren-is furnished which normally prevents movements of .the @plate with 4resp ect Lto the nut.

may Abear against Athe adiacenti portions *of'the shell or housing. Thus, -the several i'parts `o'fr 'the structure are Yin effect 'locked `under Ia Condition of maximum tension. Consequently., the sheets gainst any movement with re- 'are maintained l spect to each other.

Due to "the "detent `or looking structure furnished, ian"accidental :loosening 'of the Darts injcident "to vibration or `otherwise is 'substantialiy l'precluded. "On *the other "hand, if it is desired deliberately" to 'un'counle "the "parts, this may readily be accomplished by simply rotating the shank throughout VAsubstantially` an angle `of E90" and inthe 'direeti'onpermittedby the'stop. "Under these circumstances, the threaded side 'stud edges whiehhave been positioned substantially midway between thegrooves or interrupted jportions Lof 'the *threads "28 Wfill again :be aligned `with these `grooves.1 Under these Vicircu'rnstafnbes, there is no restraint upon "axial movement l'of the 2 "stud With respectfto the nut. `Accordingly,the

Asheetsor members I0 and II may be movedout `of contact. Ii, 'thereatenjit isdesiredto cornpletely remove "the stud from `the 'sh'eet'fllyfthis may of 'course Abe `aecorriplished by flnaniniilalting the tongues ISso that they clear theproje'etions "20. Thereafter, the retain-ing folate i8 may This, however, Will not normallyfbe desirablef `NOW referringlto lFigs. '7 ito `ll"inclusive, `:it `iis/ill Lloe seen that a constructie-ntie many 4respects `similar to "that heretofore""described "has been illustrated. ItWill be observed, howeventhat in lieujof `the rodor wire 120 usedto provide the pro- `fleeting portions, ears 4| areiurn'shed. Tl'ie fri A spring conveniently in :the formfof antiadrangular ,bowed .member 46 1b-ears. against'ithe `.outer tace of plate 42 es shown fespeci'a'lly :in Figs.

.l(). andw1fl.` Accordingly, ,tliiswspring ttends "to maintain the. `plate @in lconstant,` contact with Fthe `:flange 264-01 .the fmltand falso :tends 'ftoirmaintain the nutin contact with-the iace-.offtheicasingtand .project :ibas .shown in ,10. ohe end-s -ofthe spring Will-as :shown inv fthese` figures-wheel* against iinwardlysextending, or flange-portions 41 torming a` `partfofthe; ishell or casing. fUn'der i these circumstances, ther-detentstnuoture willi-at placeduponrelativerotationaof tha-parts.`

i If desired and as `'shown inzElgff'Laspacer lplate 48 `may, be interposed .between the shell, andjzthe '.plate Ilor .itsequivalent This .spacer `plate may `all times*` be operative .and` a .:restrain-t` 'Willa-be Ylaesecuredias.a unit with the .she11-.by, .for .example, disposing eyeletsABin linewith .the `openings .2.I ci` the .earsQorv endportionsfoi the casing'a-nd passing vthese ,eyelets through aligned :openings 485m the spacerplate. `.`Thereafter, theleyeleltfs 4are flangedororimned 49" Ltosecure-theparts `against detachment.A .'.When mounting a. unitfof this type the .rivets 23 ares-mllypassed .through the bores. defined .by the eyelets andtheoopenings in the sheet 'Ii or its equivalent. Accordingly, theparts may be iixedly mounted.

In `certain instances, .it maybe-desirabletoein.-

f crease ,the strengthfo'f thelockling Yplatefby.forinmation of these ears ispreierably 'achieved by squeezing or striking `out material at "points Aaidjacent 'whichthe ears are to` extend. Sirri'laifiy to the construction heretofore described, `itlfreclisitance vbetween the outeriends of these ears is greater than the distance between t'rreinnei' edges tainerjplate "I' may be "slid along `the shank 'oi the stud to a. point at whichits tongues 'or tabs override *the :ears '41. iSucii 'procedure yis, `of course, resortedto after the 'stud lhas been associated With the nlate or sheet 150. f f x "Rotataibly supp orted upon the flange `26 of the nut and extending .ntofthe `bore, vottlrie 'same is "a iock plate or sleeve l2. As especially 'shown .ange 4`9 ofI the nut may Jbe formed "reduced preferably 75 of these detent'portionsandtheslot ing plate 5'2 as s'hownfin Fig, 12.( This ypla'tief'is l formed with the usos-1 slot L53,` 4and nasnsjeege through an are' in excess of 180. `This results in an annular edgejportionf,

i the ,ends of, which are defined by `stop 'elements or edges. ','Ifhe 'detent portions 55 of this plate ,preferably extend perpendicularto the vside'edges of `the s1ot`53.` ccord'n'gly, amaximllllf? amount of plate material'will eist betweenfthe inner "lds Withthepiate shown in Fig. informatie kmounted upon the nut illustrated in Fig. 13, it is apparent that any desired encasing and spring structures may be employed. The detents 55 Will alternatively cooperate with one of the pairs of grooves 5|. Rotational movement of the parts will be limited to substantially 90. This will be because the stops defined at the ends of the edge portion 54 will bear against or lie adjacent one of the pairs of tongues 50. Therefore, the Plate 52 will normally be locked in a position Where the end edges of its slot 53 are in line with the interruptions of the thread portions of the nut, or where the ends of such slot are aligned with the zones of these thread portions.

Thus, it is apparent that among others the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

l. In a fastener assembly, a headed stud including a shank formed with interrupted threads, said shank being adapted to extend through the aperture of a mounting member, retaining means mounted by said shank and to :bear against the face of said mounting member to prevent removal of said stud therefrom, said means comprising a plate larger than said aperture, anv opening in said plate to receive said shank, a resilient, deformable tongue forming a part of said retaining means and extending adjacent said shank into said opening, a projection extending from the shank and engageable by said tongue; said tongue being displaceable to permit said retaining means to clear said projections when mounting said retaining means upon said shank.

2. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener. said assembly including a nut, a housing formed with an opening through which said nut projects, a flange member extendingv from said nut and within said housing, a plate member rotatably mounted by said flange and formed with a-slot to permit passage of a stud shank, one of said members being formed with radially extending grooves, and ribs extending from the second of said members and into said grooves to restrain relative rotation of said members when the latter are in predetermined positions.

3. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener, said assembly including a nut, a housing formed with an opening through which said nut projects, a flange extending from said nut and within said housing, a plate rotatably mounted by said flange and formed with a slot to permit passage of a stud shank, a spring acting against said plate and nut to maintain the latter in assembled relationship, and a spacer member disposed within said housing, said spring also bearing against said spacer member.

4. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener. said assembly including a nut, a housing formed With an opening through which said nut projects, a flange extending from said nut and within said housing, the inner face of said housing and the adjacent edges of said nut presenting curved cooperative surfaces.

5. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener, said assembly including a housing formed with an opening, a nut body projecting through said opening, a flange and a flared portion forming a part of said nut, said flared portion extending between the body and said flange, and a locking plate rotatably supported upon the flange of said nut and presenting a tapered body lying adjacent the flared portion thereof.

6. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener, said assembly including a housing formed with an opening, a nut body projecting through said opening, a flange and a ared portion forming a part of said nut, said flared portion extending between the body and said flange, a locking plate rotatably supported upon the flange of said nut, and presenting a tapered body lying adjacent the flared portion thereof, and detent means c ooperating with said plate and nut to normally maintain the latter in predetermined positions with respect to each other.

7. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener, said assembly including a housing formed with an opening, a nut body projecting through said opening, a flange and a flared portion forming a part of said nut, said flared portion extending between the body and said flange, and a locking plate rotatably supported upon the flange ofsaid nut, and presenting a tapered body lying adjacent the fiared portion thereof, both said tapered and flared portions being slotted to permit of the passage of a stud shank, and detent means cooperating with said plate and nut to normally maintain the latter in predetermined positions with respect vto each other.

8. A fastener assembly including in combination a stud member comprising a flattened shank formed with screw threads in its outer edges, a nut including a body and a detent plate rotatably mounted by said body, said plate being formed With a slot permitting the passage of said shank but preventing relative rotation of the shank with respect to the same, said nut being formed with interruptions in its threads, and radially extending ribs and cooperating grooves formed in said plate and nut to prevent relative rotation of the same.

9. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener, said assembly including, in combination, a nut member, a lock plate member rotatably supported thereon, a tab extending from one of said members, the second of said members being formed with an arcuate recess on its circumference and Within which said tab rides, and said tab, in conjunction with the end walls of said recess, providing a stop structure limiting the rotational movement of said plate member with respect to said nut member.

l0. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener, said assembly including, in combination, a nut member, a lock plate member rotatably supported thereon, a tab extending from one of said members, the second of said members being formed With an arcuate recess and within which said tab rides, said tab, in conjunction With the end Walls of said recess, providing a stop structure limiting the rotational movement of said plate member with respect to said nut member, one of said members being formed With a series of radially extending grooves, and ribs forming a part of the second of said members and extendable into said grooves to promote a detent structure.

1l. A stud-receptacle assembly fo-r a fastener, said assembly including, in combination, a nut member, a lock plate member rotatably supported thereon, a tab extending from one of said members, the second of said members being formed with an arcuate recess and within which said tab rides, said tab, in conjunction with the end Walls of said recess, providing a stop structure limiting the rotational movement of said plate member with respect to said nut member,

ing against said plate to cause thelatter to .y

engage said nut and to also cause said nut to bear against said shell, and inwardly extending ange portions forming a part of said shell and supporting said spring.

12. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener,

said assembly including, in combination, a nut' member, a lock plate member rotatably supported thereon, a tab extending from one of` said members, the second of said members being formed with an arcuate recess and within which said tab rides, said tab, in conjunction with the end walls of said recess, providing a stop structure limiting the rotational movement of said plate member with respect to said nut member, one of said members being formed with a series of radially extending grooves, ribs forming a part of the second of said members and extendable into said grooves to provide a detent structure, a shell formed with an opening through which said nut member extends,` a spring bearing against said plate to cause the latter to engage said nut and to also cause said nut to bear against said shell, a spacer plate disposedI against said shell, said spring bearing against said spacer plate, and means for securing said spacer plate and shell against movements with respect to each other.

13. In a fastener assembly, in combination, a nut member, a lock plate member rotatably supported thereon, a tab extending from one of said members, the second `of i said members being formed with an arcuate recess on its circumference and Within which said tab rides, said tab,

`said assembly including, in combination, a nut,l

o detachment.

inconjunction Iwith the end walls of said recess, providing a stop structure limiting the rotational movement of said plate member with respect to said nut member, a stud to extend through an opening in said plate and into the bore of said nut, integral ear portions forming a part of said stud and extending beyond the body `of the same, and lstud-retaining means slidably mounted upon said stud and secured against displacement with respect to the same by said ears.

14. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener,V o

said assembly including, in combination, a nut, a lock plate rotatably supported thereon, the edge of said plate being reduced throughout a portion of its length to provide an arcuate recess,

and a tab extending upwardly from said nut` and integral therewith to lie within said recess and, in cooperation with the end edges thereof, to limit rotationalmovements of said nut and lock plate.

15. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener,

a lock plate rotatably supported thereon, said nut being formed with a radial series of grooves, radially extending ribs projecting from the adjacent face of the plate, and means for causing cooperation between said grooves and ribs to provide a detent structure.`

16. A stud-receptacle assembly for a fastener, said` assembly including a stud-accommodating member and also including a hollow body comprising an end wall and side walls, and perforated ear portions extending from said side walls, a spacer plate formed with `perforations in line with the perforated ear portions of said shell,

and eyelets extending through both of said perforations to secure said plate and shell against GEORGE cANNovA. 

